Versie van 2 okt 2009 om 11:21

Inhoud

Bisphenol-A is also known as 4,4’-Isopropylidenediphenol. At room temperature it occurs as a white powder or in flakes. [1]

This is the common definition for Bisphenol-A, other definitions can be discussed in the article

Notes

Bisphenol-A

Formula

C15H16O2

The total amount of bisphenol-A manufactured in 2005 within the EU was estimated at approximately 1.150.000 tonnes. This large amount was mainly produced to manufacture polycarbonate, witch is a widely used plastic.[2]

In water bisphenol A is moderately soluble, 300 mg/l, and considered to have a moderate tendency to adsorb to suspended particles and sediments. It has a very low tendency to evaporate into the atmosphere where most of it will be degraded in less than a day. In water and soils it is rather stable, although it can readily be biodegraded. The environmental half-life is only 3 to 8 days and a 100% removal of environmental contamination can occur within 17 days. In anoxic sediments bisphenol A can be created from the degradation of TBBP-A.[1]

Bisphenol A has a low tendency to bioaccumulate. Therefore in poses a low toxicity threat by biomagnification towards marine mammals. Bisphenol A become lethal when mammals consume each day more than 33 mg of it per kg of body weight.[1]

Bisphenol A exhibits endocrine disrupting effects. In gastropods concentrations bellow 100 µg/l have been shown cause reduced penis sizes in males and enhanced oocyte production in females. The latter results in an increased embryo production at low bisphenol A concentrations. The latter effect has even been demonstrated in some gastropod species at concentrations of only 100 ng/l. [2] It demonstrates a moderate acute toxicity towards aquatic species. Most species start dying at concentrations above 1 mg/l. [3]